A Sydney cafe owner who lured a young woman to his home for a wine tasting session and then sexually assaulted her will serve at least 21 months in prison.
Aaron Troy Sweet, 45, was sentenced on Friday by District Court Judge Jane Culver after pleading guilty to one count of forcible sexual contact with a person less than his age.
The woman, who had repeatedly declined Sweet’s invitations for a glass of wine, finally consented to a wine tasting session at his Ashfield house out of guilt, according to Judge Culver.
Sweet provided his victim a $4 bottle of wine from Aldi, while saying the July 4, 2020 session would involve a $400 bottle of wine.
Just after 11 o’clock, the two took a tequila shot after Sweet was informed that she had to be back home by 11.30 o’clock. The woman fell asleep after that and woke up the next morning having the cafe owner rub her back while she was still naked.
It is acknowledged that the victim was either asleep or unconscious when the crime was committed.
In the Downing Center court, Judge Culver stated that a victim who is not conscious when an offence is committed is particularly vulnerable since they are powerless to thwart the offence.
DNA was discovered during forensic analysis on the woman’s clothing and genitalia.
When contacted by the victim’s terrified mother over the phone, Sweet refused to give her his address and first said the woman was in an Uber, then claimed she had been outside his house for two hours and was now inside his spare bedroom.
Because the victim’s mother was aware that her daughter was compromised or susceptible, the judge said that (these deceptions) prevented her from being retrieved by her.
Additionally, he misled the victim directly, first telling her she didn’t want to go home and then, in a bugged phone call in December 2020, alleging that she had given him oral sex months earlier.
Judge Culver considered Sweet’s 2016 conviction for two counts of rape while determining her sentence. One of his victims was a 15-year-old who was assaulted while dozing off after receiving alcohol from him.
Given his prior convictions, Judge Culver was sceptical of any contrition on Sweet’s part for the new offence.
Given the history in front of the court, it is challenging for me to believe that the offender’s sensibilities have changed between the earlier offence and the current offence in order to reduce his chance of reoffending.
It was also considered Sweet’s past, which included seeing domestic abuse as a child in his household and later developing insecurities, a fear of being rejected, and a belief that he was flawed or unlovable.
Sweet was given a sentence of up to 34 months in jail with a 21-month non-parole period.
On November 24, after taking into account time already spent, he will be qualified for parole.
In addition, the court issued an apprehended personal violence order, which for five years forbade Sweet from contacting the victim directly or assaulting, threatening, stalking, or harassing her.